The Circuit: Graphic Novel Edition by Francisco Jimenez Adapted by Andrew Rostan & Illustrated by Celia Jacobs (2024)
That’s it. This is one of those memoirs that sears a hole in your heart and mind. How can I ever eat a strawberry or drink a glass of wine without thinking of the back-breaking, transitory life Francisco and his father endured. The Circuit was originally written by Francisco Jimenez and published in the late 1990s. It was then adapted for graphic novel form by Andrew Rostan and Celia Jacobs and published in 2024. This is the perfect time for all middle schoolers and adults to grab this book.
Francisco (Pancho) leaves Mexico as a young boy with his parents and older brother. They cross over into California, hoping to find work and opportunity. Francisco’s father finds work harvesting fruit and cotton. Yet, the harvest seasons vary, based on the crops. Francisco and his siblings never get to settle down in one place for too long. Just when Francisco finds a caring teacher or a thoughtful friend, the picking season is over and his family must pack up and move to the next migrant tent city. Despite the gripping poverty and the harsh conditions, Francisco’s dedication to his family and education remains strong. You will root for Francisco at every page turn. The ending is brutal, but true to life. With everything going on in this country right now, it is a perfect metaphor for the injustices people face. (I won’t spoil the ending, just read this book!) Since this is a memoir, we know how things turned out for Francisco. He received his Master’s and PhD from Columbia University and serves as a professor at Santa Clara University - he is currently in his early 80s.
Heart: The parrot part of the story nearly broke me. Yet, I also feel empathy for the dad, as he was under such stress, but jeez!!! WHY! WHY! I believe books build empathy. We can only live our life, but we can imagine what others’ lives are like. We can only imagine if we listen. So, let’s listen to each others’ stories. Let’s read. Let’s watch documentaries. Let’s explore. Let’s enter our community. Let’s enter communities that appear different. I firmly believe we are all the same - we are all out there seeking safety, health and love. Francisco’s story embodies that.
Head: I used to teach the U.S. Constitution and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights to 7th graders. I showed clips of PBS’s Exodus documentary as we reviewed the UN Declaration of Human Rights - seeing the plight of real humans leaving dire situations in their homeland is more powerful than reading an article.